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The Syringomyelia Cavalier Collection Scheme

The SM Collection Scheme is now finalised and I have posted the flyer information below.

I am sorry to bring up unhappy thoughts. I am not really a gloomy person, but I am passionate about stopping the spread of SM through our breed, & to do that I have to ask owners to look at painful reality.

It is a terrible thing when anyone's pet die, but it happens, and for owners that have dogs with syringomyelia this scheme could be a way to feel something positive has come from something so sad.

Many dogs live for many years with their SM symptoms controlled by drugs, & they may well die of other things, MVD, cancer or problems of old age. These are the dogs that could contribute as much to the knowledge of syringomyelia as the unfortunate little ones that are put to sleep at a young age because they are so badly affected by SM.

I have donated three cavaliers for post mortem and I am glad that I did so. Their bodies were then cremated & their ashes are now scattered on a Norfolk beach, joining those from all the other cavaliers I have owned.
I like to think they are all playing and running together across the sand.

Please tell other cavalier owners about this scheme. This is a terrible thing that is happening to our lovely dogs, and by working together we may help to find the cause.

Thank you,

Margaret C

THE SYRINGOMYELIA CAVALIER COLLECTION SCHEME

This is a plea to all owners with a cavalier that has Syringomyelia confirmed by an MRI scan.

However sad the thought makes us, all our dogs will die at some time.There will be some owners who having seen their pets suffer from syringomyelia, would like to know that their loss could help unravel some of the mysteries of this painful condition.

Professor Nick Jeffery ( Cambridge University ) Dr Clare Rusbridge (Stone Lion Veterinary Centre), & other researchers need owners to donate cell tissue, the basic material needed in the study of cavalier health problems, when their Syringomyelia affected cavaliers die.
The death can be from any cause but, as the primary aim of this scheme is to provide spinal cord tissue for SM research, the cavalier must have a positive diagnosis of SM.

Pancreatic and heart valve tissue will also be collected for use in separate studies.

The Collection Scheme will pay for ten cavaliers bodies to be donated. It will provide a grant to help the owner transport their recently deceased pet to the nearest veterinary centre with a pathology department.
The cost of the post mortem, the fee for individual cremation and return of the ashes, and the cost of sending the donated tissue to the Universities will also be paid by the scheme.

The deceased cavalier should be at least three months old and the cause of death can be for any reason, it does not have to be related to the syringomyelia diagnosis.

All Cavalier owners are different, some will find themselves uncomfortable at the thought of donating their pet’s body for post mortem, preferring to bury them in a favourite spot in the garden. There are other owners, however, who would feel positive about giving their dog for post mortem examination, as long as they know they will have their pet’s ashes back and they can decide on their last resting place.

The death of a much loved cavalier is a very emotional occasion and decisions made on the spur of the moment may later be regretted.
Participation in this scheme is something that should be thought through carefully before the loss of the pet occurs.

I am sticking this thread so that people in the UK who might wish to get more information or feel they would like to help critical research in this special way will know they can PM Margaret for further details and help.

I am sticking this thread so that people in the UK who might wish to get more information or feel they would like to help critical research in this special way will know they can PM Margaret for further details and help.

There has been five cavaliers volunteered so far, Nicki's beautiful Teddy was the latest.

SM affected dogs can live for a long time when the pain is successfully controlled with medication, and sometimes they die of other causes, cancer or MVD, but all affected dogs could all help with this scheme.

What is important is that owners of SM cavaliers know about the scheme, so that they can consider whether they feel able to volunteer their little dog for postmortem when the time comes.

I am still fund raising for this project, as well as doing the eBay items for Rupert's Fund, but my priority now is to get the information out to the owners of SM cavaliers, so a page on Cavalier Matters would really help.

Margaret C

Cavaliers......Faith, The Ginger Tank and Woody.
Japanese Chins.... Dandy, Benny, Bridgette and Hana.
Remembered with love......... Tommy Tuppence and Fonzi

I have thought long and hard about this over the last year or so since I first found out it existed.

Ruby is my soul mate and best friend and to contemplate loosing her brings a tear to my eye whenever I think of it.
Ive had many many nightmares over the last year (the 24th will mark a year since finding out about the SM) where she has died, in each of them I have just held and held on to her body and not let go- to me that has symbolised that I have not come to terms with the SM.
last week I had the same nightmare where I had to release her suffering and this was very different from the others. I called Margaret and Tania and wanted her to be passed on to the scheme to help. My nightmare ended with me passing her body to Dr Rusbridge.
I woke up in steams of tears but at the same time it was like a weight had been lifted as I knew that when the time comes - if she is still needed I will let her go.
I cant imagine loosing her- she is my first dog and neer reaslised on that first day just how much I would come to rely on her and love her unconditionally.
She has changed my life in too many ways and I know that I was put on this earth to make a difference, she was bought to me for a reaason and my very special girl deserves a very fitting and special end.

I hope that I will have many years with my girl and that she may not be needed by that time BUT if she is then I would like for her to help the scheme in every way she can

Karen

Ruby - my stunning soul mate who defies the odds every dayCharlie- my angel at heart and devil at play

I volunteered my beautiful Megan some time ago, after quite a lot of soul-searching. All my other Cavvies are buried in our garden or in our field at the back of the house where they loved to run, so this would be something very different from what we have done before.

Apart from feeling committed to all the important research that is going on and wanting to help somehow, one of my main considerations was the thought of having to dig a grave for Megan and bury her when her time comes. She is the first dog we have ever owned from puppyhood and she is 11 now. As I posted elsewhere, she went through all my own serious illness with me 10 years ago, has seen several other Cavvies come and go and has made a magnificent fightback from her own SM diagnosis, which seems pretty stable at the moment. As you can imagine, she is very VERY special to us.

So for us (and I know everyone feels differently about these things), the idea of having a guaranteed individual cremation is an important factor.

We are hoping that we don't have to think about any of this for some time to come yet, but if and when we do, everything is already in place and we have had time to work out our feelings and how we shall cope. It will be hard - very hard - but we feel it is right for us.

I do hope others on this forum will think so too and join us in our efforts to help abolish this awful disease for those who come after us.